Steam-engine



(No Model.)

J. H. SUITS, STEAM ENGINE.

No. 245,889. Patented Aug. 16,1881.

ATTORNEYS" INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAHES H. SUITS, OF BUTLER, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 245,889, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed April 28, 1881.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I,.JAMES H. Sons, of Butler, inthe county of Montgomery and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Steam-Engine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates especially to highpressure engines, and its object is to increase the effective power of thesteam by creating a vacuum behind the piston.

The invention consists in the addition of a vacuum-chamber to the steam-cylinder, with which chamber the cylinder communicates by means of ports corresponding with thecylinder steam-ports, said vacuum-chamber being supplied with a suitable valve, and being exhausted of residual air and steam by an air-pump, so that the steam and air behind the piston at the end of each stroke shall escape into the vacuum-chamber, and be thence removed by the air-pump.

Figure l is a longitudinal, partly sectional, plan ofa horizontal steam-engine with my improved device applied. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation 011 line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a vertical sectional elevation on line a 2', Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the steamcylinder; B, thepiston; G,thepiston-rod,passing through the cylinder stuffing-box a, and having on its end a cross-head, b, sliding in guide-bars D. E is the connecting-rod, connecting the piston-rod O with the crank c of the driving-shaft F, that is journaled in bearings d,- and G is the fly-wheel.

On one side of the cylinder A is a steamchest, H, into which steam enters through the supplying-port J, said steam-chest H communicating with the cylinder A through steamports g g. I represents the sliding valve of the steam-chest H, connected to the shaft F by valve-stem l, connecting-rod m, and eccentrio m,- and It, the exhaust-port. On the opposite side of the cylinder A is the vacuumchamber K, communicating with the cylinder A through exhaustports is k at either end thereof.

(No model.)

A, the bolts 12 passing through slots 21 in the valve-seat. These blocks 1; form an essential part of the valve L, as they prevent the lifting of said valve L by the combined effect of the steam beneath it and the vacuum above it, while the action of the steam and vacuum tends, by lifting the valve L, to press the blocks 1) more closely over the ports 7a It, thus making the "alve air-tight.

Connected with the exhaust q of the vacu umchamber K is an air-pump, M, provided with an ordinary valve, 1, and a piston and rod, 8 s, the latter of which is connected with the eccentric N, that is mounted on a suitable standard, N, and is operated by a cord or belt, 0, that runs from a pulley, O, on the main driving-shaft F.

It is designed that the air-pump M shall make about four strokes for every revolution of the fly-wheel G, so that there shall be a partial vacuum in the chamber Kali the time. The two valves I L move in contrary directions from each otheras, for instance, when the valve I closes the steam-port g and opens the steam-port g the valve L closes the port and opens the port It immediately after steam has exhausted beneath the valve 1, and, there being a partial vacuum all the time in the chamber K, it necessarily follows that the heated air, "apor, or steam which may remain behind the piston at each stroke will rush through the alternately-opened ports 7t 70 into the vacuum-chamber K, and thence be exhausted by the air-pum p M.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the steamcylinder A, having exhaust-ports 7t 7 and recesses or grooves 19 of the vacuum-chamber valve L,

constructed with end blocks, p,secure(1 by bolts substantially as herein shown and described,

19, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby theresiduuin of steam behind the pis- I 0 whereby the's'aid'ports are closed by the vacuton is exhausted, as set forth.

um in the Vacuum-chamber, as set forth.

2. In a steam-engine, the c0mbinati0n,with JAMES SUITS the steam-cylinder A, provided with exhaust- WVitnesses: ports 70 7c, of the vacuum-chamber K, provided JAMES M. TRUITT,

with reciprocating valve L and. air-pump M, WM. ABBOT. 

